Tamsui: An individual who identified as a woman during an arrest for unpaid taxi fare in New Taipei’s Tamsui District was later discovered to be a man who had been evading law enforcement in Yilan for six years.
According to Focus Taiwan, the 33-year-old fugitive, identified by the surname Yang, had been residing and working in Taipei and New Taipei under a female identity. Yang was apprehended early Thursday morning after he failed to pay a taxi fare amounting to NT$700 (US$22.83).
Police were alerted by the taxi driver after the passenger, claiming to have no cash, exited the vehicle to retrieve money from his home but did not return. Yang, dressed in leggings and flats and speaking in a “soft voice,” provided false information and presented the identification card of his “boyfriend” when confronted by authorities.
Despite attempts to reach out to family and friends for assistance, Yang was taken into custody approximately 40 minutes later for the unpaid fare. A subsequent fingerprint check revealed Yang’s true identity and his status as a wanted individual. He was sought by Yilan prosecutors for charges including fraud and public endangerment.
Police investigations uncovered that Yang had been disguising himself as a woman to avoid capture, sustaining himself by working part-time in restaurants in the Taipei and New Taipei regions. Following interrogation, Yang was transferred to the Yilan District Prosecutors Office for further proceedings.
